KR20160090450A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, provided is a display device comprising: a substrate on which a thin film transistor is disposed; pixel electrodes which are connected to the thin film transistor; roof layers which are formed on and spaced apart from the pixel electrodes with microcavities, including liquid crystal layers, interposed therebetween, and include injection holes; support members which are formed at both edges of the microcavities in a column direction, which are adjacent to the injection holes and face each other; and stepped portions which are formed to protrude from the support members to first side walls of the microcavities in a row direction and to protrude to lower surfaces of the microcavities. According to the present invention, deformation of the roof layers can be prevented by the support members, and locations, at which a phenomenon in which alignment materials are lumped occurs, can be controlled via the stepped portions formed in the roof layers. Furthermore, widths of the liquid crystal injection holes in portions, at which the support members are disposed, are formed to be narrow, and thus areas occupied by light blocking members can be reduced, thereby providing an advantage in which opening ratio is increased.

Description

Display device {DISPLAY DEVICE}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a display device formed of a single substrate.

The liquid crystal display (LCD) is one of the most widely used flat panel displays (FPD). A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal display panel in which a liquid crystal layer is formed between a lower panel and an upper panel, and different electric potentials are applied to pixel electrodes and common electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel, field, thereby changing the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, thereby controlling the polarization of incident light to display an image.

The two panels constituting the liquid crystal display panel of the liquid crystal display device may be composed of a lower panel in which the thin film transistors are arranged and an upper panel opposed thereto. In the lower panel, a gate line for transmitting a gate signal, a data line for transmitting a data signal, a thin film transistor connected to a gate line and a data line, and a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor are formed. A light shielding member, a color filter, a common electrode, and the like may be formed on the upper substrate, and at least one of them may be formed on the lower panel.

In a conventional liquid crystal display device, two substrates are used for the lower panel and the upper panel, and a process of forming and bonding the above-described components to each substrate is required. As a result, the liquid crystal display panel is heavy and thick, and problems are recognized in terms of cost and process time. In recent years, techniques for forming a tunnel-like structure on one substrate and injecting liquid crystal into the structure have been developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device manufactured using a single substrate, in which the position of the support member is adjusted and the position of aggregation of the orientation material is controlled through a step formed on a part of the roof layer, And a display device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device including a substrate on which a thin film transistor is disposed, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, a liquid crystal layer on the pixel electrode, And a support member formed at both edges in the column direction of the microspace facing the injection port, wherein the supporting member is located at a distance from the support member in the row direction of the microspace And a step portion protruding from a lower surface of the micro space with a side wall.

One or a plurality of the support members may be formed.

The stepped portion may be formed at a lower height than the support member.

The stepped portion may be formed in a linear shape having the same width as the support member.

The step portion and the support member may be formed of the same material.

The step portion and the supporting member may be formed of the same material as the roof layer.

The support member may be formed in a columnar shape.

A common electrode formed below the roof layer with the pixel electrode and the fine space therebetween, a first alignment film formed on the pixel electrode, and a second alignment film formed below the common electrode have.

And a cover film formed on the roof layer and sealing the injection port.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device including a substrate on which a thin film transistor is disposed, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged on the pixel electrode, A roof layer comprising an injection port, an extension in which a portion of the roof layer extends at both edges in the column direction of the microspace facing adjacent the injection port and which extends through the injection port, And a stepped portion protruding from a lower surface of the extending portion to an edge of the extending portion in the row direction of the supporting member.

The width of the extended portion in the row direction may be smaller than the width of the fine space in the row direction.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to control the position at which the bunching of the alignment material occurs through the step formed in the roof layer while preventing deformation of the roof layer by the supporting member.

In addition, the width of the liquid crystal injection hole at the portion where the supporting member is located is narrowed, so that the area occupied by the light shielding member can be reduced, thereby improving the aperture ratio.

1 and 2 are plan views schematically showing a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig.
5 is a layout diagram schematically showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.
7 is a layout diagram schematically illustrating a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: FIG. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

In the drawings, the thickness is enlarged to clearly represent the layers and regions. Like parts are designated with like reference numerals throughout the specification. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is referred to as being "on" another portion, it includes not only the element directly over another element, Conversely, when a part is "directly over" another part, it means that there is no other part in the middle.

Hereinafter, a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be schematically described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

1 and 2 are plan views schematically showing a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 show only the constituent elements for convenience; Fig. 1 shows the formation positions of the support members with reference to a plurality of pixel regions, Fig. 2 shows the formation positions of the support members with reference to the plurality of micro- Respectively.

The display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate 110 made of a material such as glass or plastic, and a roof layer 360 formed on the substrate 110. [

The substrate 110 includes a plurality of pixels PX. The plurality of pixels PX are arranged in a matrix form including a plurality of pixel rows and a plurality of pixel columns. Each pixel PX may include a first sub-pixel PXa and a second sub-pixel PXb. The first subpixel PXa and the second subpixel PXb may be arranged vertically.

A first valley V1 is located between the first subpixel PXa and the second subpixel PXb along the pixel row direction and a second valley V2 is located between the plurality of pixel rows.

The roof layer 360 may be formed along a plurality of pixel rows. At this time, in the first valley V1, the roof layer 360 is removed and an injection port 307 is formed so that the micro space 305 covered by the roof layer 360 can be exposed to the outside.

Each of the first sub-pixel PXa and the second sub-pixel PXb may include one injection port 307. [ For example, an injection port 307 is formed corresponding to the lower side of the first sub-pixel PXa, an injection port 307 is formed corresponding to the upper side of the second sub-pixel PXb, ) Face each other.

Below the roof layer 360, a support member 365 is formed adjacent to the injection port 307. A fine space 305 is formed below the roof layer 360 and a phenomenon that the roof layer 360 is sagged down from the injection port 307 corresponding to the entrance of the fine space 305 may occur. Since the support member 365 is formed adjacent to the injection port 307 to support the roof layer 360 in the display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sagging phenomenon of the roof layer 360 around the injection port 307 Can be prevented.

The support member 365 may be formed to be biased toward the center of the injection port 307 formed at the edge of the fine space 305.

The support member 365 is formed at the opposite edge of two different micro-spaces 305, respectively. The plurality of fine spaces 305 are arranged in a matrix form including a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. For example, the fine space 305 may have a rectangular shape, and the lower edge of the fine space 305 of the first row and the upper edge of the fine space 305 of the second row face each other. At this time, the support member 365 is formed on the lower edge of the first row of micro-spaces 305 facing each other and the upper edge of the micro-space 305 of the second row.

The injection ports 307 are formed at two opposing edges of the respective micro spaces 305. For example, the upper edge and the lower edge of one micro-space 305 are opposed to each other, and the injection port 307 may be formed on the upper side and the lower side of the micro-space 305, respectively. At this time, the support member 365 may be formed adjacent to one of the injection ports 307 formed at two opposite edges of each of the micro-spaces 305. Further, it may not be formed in the other injection port 307.

A case has been described in which one fine space 305 is formed over the first and second sub pixel regions PXa and PXb of the adjacent two pixel regions PX but the present invention is not limited thereto . For example, one fine space 305 may be formed in one pixel region PX.

Next, a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.

3 and 4 are sectional views taken along line III-III and line IV-IV in FIG. 1, respectively.

3 and 4, a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate 110, a plurality of gate lines (not shown), a plurality of semiconductors 154, a plurality of data lines 171, And a protective film 230. Here, the protective layer 230 may be a color filter, and the color filter may include, but not limited to, red, green, and blue filters.

On the protective film 180, a plurality of light shielding members 220 and a first insulating layer 240 are disposed. The first insulating layer 240 may be formed of an inorganic insulating material such as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx), or the like. The first insulating layer 240 protects the color filter 230 and the light shielding member 220, which are made of an organic material, and may be omitted if necessary.

The light shielding member 220 overlaps with each data line 171. The first insulating layer 240 covers the light shielding member 220 and has a flat upper surface.

A pixel electrode 191 made of a transparent metal material such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or the like is disposed on the first insulating layer 240, A second insulating layer 250 may be further formed on the first insulating layer 191. The second insulating layer 250 may be formed of an inorganic insulating material such as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx), or the like. The second insulating layer 250 protects the pixel electrode 191 and may be omitted if necessary.

A common electrode 270 is formed on the pixel electrode 191 so as to be spaced apart from the pixel electrode 191 by a predetermined distance. A microcavity 305 is formed between the pixel electrode 191 and the common electrode 270. That is, the fine space 305 is surrounded by the pixel electrode 191 and the common electrode 270. The width and the width of the fine space 305 can be variously changed according to the size and resolution of the display device.

Since the second insulating layer 250 is formed on the pixel electrode 191 so that the common electrode 270 and the pixel electrode 191 are in contact with each other even if the common electrode 270 is overlapped with the pixel electrode 191, Can be prevented.

In addition, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the common electrode 270 may be formed directly on the second insulating layer 250. That is, the fine space 305 is not formed between the pixel electrode 191 and the common electrode 270, and the common electrode 270 is formed between the pixel electrode 191 and the second insulating layer 250 It is possible. At this time, the fine space 305 may be formed on the common electrode 270.

The common electrode 270 may be formed of a transparent metal material such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or the like. A constant voltage may be applied to the common electrode 270 and an electric field may be formed between the pixel electrode 191 and the common electrode 270.

A first alignment layer 11 is formed on the pixel electrode 191 and a second alignment layer 21 is formed under the common electrode 270 so as to face the first alignment layer 11.

The first alignment layer 11 and the second alignment layer 21 may be formed of a vertical alignment layer and may be formed of an alignment material such as polyamic acid, polysiloxane, or polyimide.

A liquid crystal layer made of liquid crystal molecules 310 is formed in the fine space 305 located between the pixel electrode 191 and the common electrode 270. The liquid crystal molecules 310 have a negative dielectric anisotropy and can stand in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 110 in a state in which no electric field is applied. That is, vertical orientation can be achieved.

A roof layer 360 is formed on the common electrode 270. The roof layer 360 may be made of an organic material. A fine space 305 is formed under the roof layer 360 and the roof layer 360 is hardened by the hardening process to maintain the shape of the fine space 305. The roof layer 360 is spaced apart from the pixel electrode 191 and the fine space 305.

The roof layer 360 is formed in each pixel PX and the second valley V2 along the pixel row and is not formed in the first valley V1. That is, the roof layer 360 is not formed between the first sub-pixel PXa and the second sub-pixel PXb. In each of the first sub-pixel PXa and the second sub-pixel PXb, a fine space 305 is formed below each of the roof layers 360. In the second valley V2, the micro space 305 is not formed under the roof layer 360 and is formed to be attached to the substrate 110. [ Therefore, the thickness of the roof layer 360 located in the second valley V2 may be formed thicker than the thickness of the roof layer 360 located in each of the first subpixel PXa and the second subpixel PXb have. The upper surface and both side surfaces of the fine space 305 are covered with the roof layer 360.

The roof layer 360 is provided with an injection port 307 for exposing a part of the fine space 305. The injection port 307 may be formed to face the edges of the first sub-pixel PXa and the second sub-pixel PXb as described above. For example, the injection port 307 may be formed to expose the side surface of the micro space 305 corresponding to the lower side of the first sub-pixel PXa and the upper side of the second sub-pixel PXb. When the injection port 307 is formed on the basis of the micro space 305, the injection port 307 is formed at two opposite edges of the respective micro spaces 305.

Since the fine space 305 is exposed by the injection port 307, the alignment liquid or the liquid crystal material can be injected into the fine space 305 through the injection port 307.

A supporting member 365 is formed in a columnar shape in the fine space 305 adjacent to the injection port 307. The support member 365 is formed at the opposite edge of two different micro-spaces 305, respectively.

The support member 365 according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed at each of the opposite edges of two different micro-spaces 305.

The support member 365 may be formed to be biased toward the center of the micro space 307, but it is not limited thereto and may be formed at the center of the micro space 307.

The support member 365 is connected to the roof layer 360 and may be made of the same material as the roof layer 360. The common electrode 270 may further be positioned under the support member 365. The support member 365 may overlap the pixel electrode 191 and the common electrode 270 may overlap the pixel electrode 191. [ Since the second insulating layer 250 is formed on the pixel electrode 191, it is possible to prevent a short circuit between the common electrode 270 and the pixel electrode 191.

The support member 365 may be made of a material different from that of the roof layer 360 and the common electrode 270 may not be disposed under the support member 365. At this time, the supporting member 365 may be formed directly on the pixel electrode 191, or may be formed directly on the second insulating layer 250 or the first insulating layer 240.

The planar shape of the support member 365 is shown in a quadrangular shape, but it is not limited thereto, and may have various shapes such as a circular shape and a triangular shape.

The micropipette 305 may further include a stepped portion 362 formed at one side of the upper edge of the peripheral edge of the injection port 307 in the left and right direction with respect to the position where the support member 365 is formed. The stepped portion 362 is formed in a shape protruding from the upper surface of the micro space 305 in the direction of one side of the left and right with respect to the position where the support member 365 is formed at the edge of the micro space 305 in the direction of the injection port 307 . The step portion 362 may be formed to have the same width as the support member 365.

The stepped portion 362 may be formed so as to protrude linearly from the support member 365 to the one side wall of the fine space 305 from the upper surface of the fine space 305.

That is, the stepped portion 362 can be formed on the upper surface of the fine space 305, between the support member 365 and one side wall of the fine space 305 at the edge of the fine space 305, and the stepped portion 362 May be lower than the height of the support member 365 and the width of the step 362 may be the same width as the support member 365. [

The step portion 362 may be made of the same material as the support member 365. [ Further, the step portion 362, the support member 365, and the roof layer 360 may all be made of the same material.

The first alignment layer 11 and the second alignment layer 21 may be formed by injecting an alignment liquid, and the solid content may be irregularly mixed in various directions during the drying process of the alignment liquid, resulting in the aggregation of the alignment layer. Due to the agglomeration of the alignment layer, the position where the air bubble that can be generated after the injection of the liquid crystal material can be removed may be different for each pixel, so that the air bubble may not be properly removed, .

In the display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a stepped portion 362 is formed at one side of the horizontal direction of the support member 365 formed at one edge of the fine space 305, The capillary forces at the injection port 307 are different from each other. The capillary force at the injection port 307 at one side where the stepped portion 362 is formed with the support member 365 as a reference is relatively large and the capillary force at the injection port 307 formed at the periphery of the injection port 307 in which the stepped portion 362 is formed, And the like. Accordingly, the unevenness of the alignment layer is unified by the step portion 362, so that air bubbles that may occur after the liquid crystal material is injected can be easily removed without error.

There is a possibility that the roof layer 360 is sagged at the portion where the layering of the orientation film occurs. In the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the support member 365 is formed at the point where the alignment film is clustered to support the roof layer 360, deformation of the roof layer 360 can be prevented .

The support member 365 is biased to one side with respect to the center of the micro space 307 so that the portion where the step portion 362 is formed occupies a smaller area than the portion where the step portion 362 is not formed So that it is possible to minimize the portion where the alignment film is aggregated.

A third insulating layer 370 may be further formed on the roof layer 360. The third insulating layer 370 may be formed of an inorganic insulating material such as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx), or the like. The third insulating layer 370 may be formed to cover the upper surface and side surfaces of the roof layer 360. [ The third insulating layer 370 protects the roof layer 360 made of an organic material and may be omitted if necessary.

A cover film 390 may be formed on the third insulating layer 370. The cover film 390 is formed so as to cover an injection port 307 which exposes a part of the fine space 305 to the outside. That is, the cover film 390 can seal the fine space 305 so that the liquid crystal molecules 310 formed in the fine space 305 do not protrude to the outside. The cover film 390 is in contact with the liquid crystal molecules 310 and therefore is preferably made of a material which does not react with the liquid crystal molecules 310. For example, the cover film 390 may be made of parylene or the like.

The cover film 390 may be composed of multiple films such as a double film, a triple film and the like. The bilayer consists of two layers of different materials. The triple layer consists of three layers, and the materials of the adjacent layers are different from each other. For example, the covering film 390 may comprise a layer of an organic insulating material and a layer of an inorganic insulating material.

Although not shown, a polarizing plate may be further formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the display device. The polarizing plate may comprise a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate. The first polarizing plate may be attached to the lower surface of the substrate 110, and the second polarizing plate may be attached onto the lid film 390.

Next, a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.

The display device according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is different from the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in that the number of the support members 365, (362) are the same as those of the first embodiment, and redundant explanations are omitted.

FIG. 5 is a layout diagram schematically showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.

5 and 6, in the display device according to another embodiment of the present invention, two supporting members 365 are formed at the edges of the micro space 305, thereby supporting two supporting members 365 and A step portion 362 is formed in either one of the side walls of the fine space 305 in the direction of one side wall.

That is, the two support members 365 all include the stepped portions 362 formed in either one of the side walls of the fine space 305.

Hereinafter, a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a layout diagram schematically showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG.

The display device according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is different from the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in that an extension (not shown) formed in the roof layer 360 363 are substantially the same, and redundant explanations are omitted.

7 and 8, a roof layer 360 formed on the micro-space 305 of the display device according to another embodiment of the present invention extends partly in the direction of the injection hole 307 to form the injection hole 307 And includes some invading extensions 363.

The extension portion 363 may be formed to have a width smaller than the width between the both side walls of one micro space 305 and the roof layer 360 is partially extended toward the injection port 307 to partially fill the inlet 307 . The first width D1 of the injection port 307 in the region where the extension portion 363 is formed is formed to be smaller than the second width D2 of the injection port 307 in the region where the extension portion 363 is not formed.

Further, a support member 365 and a stepped portion 362 may be formed under the extended portion 363 in which the roof layer 360 is formed.

The support member 365 may be formed anywhere under the extension portion 363 and the step portion 362 may be formed in the entire region except the region where the support member 365 is formed as the edge of the extension portion 362 .

The step portion 362 according to another embodiment of the present invention may also be formed with a linear shape having the same width as the support member 365. [

The light shielding member 220 is formed so as to overlap with the support member 365 to prevent the aggregation phenomenon of the alignment film mainly occurring near the support member 365 from being viewed as defective. The support member 365 may be formed closer to the injection port 307 by forming the support member 365 below the extended portion 363 formed by extending the roof layer 360 to form the light shielding member 220 This is because the aperture ratio can be further improved.

The first width of the injection port 307 may be 10 to 30 占 퐉 and the second width D2 of the injection port 307 may be 40 to 60 占 퐉.

As described above, it is possible to prevent the deformation of the roof layer by the support member and to control the position at which the bunching of the alignment material occurs through the step formed on the roof layer, and to narrow the width of the liquid crystal injection hole, And the aperture ratio can be improved.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, Of the right.

11, 21: orientation film 110: substrate
140: gate insulated side 154: semiconductor
171: Data line 191: Pixel electrode
220: shielding member 270: common electrode
230: color filter 240, 250, 370: insulating layer
305: micro space 307: inlet
310: liquid crystal molecule PX: pixel
360: roof layer 362:
365: support member 363: extension part
V1: Horizontal valley V2: Vertical valley

Claims (18)

A substrate on which the thin film transistor is located,
A pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor,
A roof layer disposed on the pixel electrode with a fine space including a liquid crystal layer therebetween and spaced apart from the pixel electrode,
And a support member formed at both edges in the column direction of the micro space facing the injection port,
And a step portion protruding from the support member to a lower surface of the micro space with one side wall in the row direction of the micro space, The method of claim 1,
Wherein one or a plurality of the supporting members are formed. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the step portion is formed at a lower height than the support member. 4. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the step portion is formed in a linear shape having the same width as the support member. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the step portion and the supporting member are formed of the same material. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the step portion and the supporting member are formed of the same material as the roof layer. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the supporting member is formed in a columnar shape. The method of claim 1,
A common electrode formed below the roof layer with the pixel electrode and the micro space interposed therebetween,
A first alignment film formed on the pixel electrode, and
And a second alignment film formed under the common electrode. 9. The method of claim 8,
And a cover film formed on the roof layer and sealing the injection port. A substrate on which the thin film transistor is located,
A pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor,
A pixel electrode and a pixel electrode; a pixel electrode; a pixel electrode; a pixel electrode;
An extension portion in which a part of the roof layer extends at both edges in the column direction of the micro space facing the injection port so as to extend through the injection port,
And a support member formed below the extension portion,
And a stepped portion protruding from the support member to the lower surface of the extended portion in the row direction edge of the extended portion. 11. The method of claim 10,
And the width of the extending portion in the row direction is smaller than the width of the fine space in the row direction. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein one or a plurality of the supporting members are formed. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the step portion is formed at a lower height than the support member. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the stepped portion is formed in a columnar shape,
Wherein the step portion is formed in a linear shape having the same width as the support member. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the step portion and the supporting member are formed of the same material. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the step portion and the supporting member are formed of the same material as the roof layer. 11. The method of claim 10,
A common electrode formed below the roof layer with the pixel electrode and the micro space interposed therebetween,
A first alignment film formed on the pixel electrode, and
And a second alignment film formed under the common electrode. The method of claim 17,
And a cover film formed on the roof layer and sealing the injection port.

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